Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout
MCCLOUD, California
Free — you'll pick up right here.
No verdict for this campground
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Shasta-Trinity National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Campsite availability
Live from Recreation.gov for Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout.
Here's your stay, mapped
Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Gear for the day
Meals
Photos
About this campground
Overview Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout was constructed in the 1920s and was used by the Forest Service on a regular basis until 1978. It is one of the few remaining historic lookouts in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The lookout is still used by the Forest Service in times of extreme fire danger. The lookout is accessible by car, but the last 4 miles are on unpaved roads and difficult for RVs and cars with trailers to navigate. Visitors must bring many of their own supplies. The accommodations of this lookout may be rustic, but the views guarantee that visitors will have a memorable stay. Recreation Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout is an ideal location for sightseeing and bird watching, and it's a photographer's dream. Visitors in search of more active pursuits can drive a short distance to hike and explore the many nearby hills, clearings and caves. Medicine Lake has a day use area with a large swim beach and a boat dock. Facilities The lookout is a 14x14 wooden cabin that sits on the ground. Front steps lead up to the entrance and a wooden deck surrounds it. It's equipped with a wood stove, two cots, a shovel, a bucket, storage cabinets, dining table, cleaning gear and a fire extinguisher. A barbecue pit and picnic table are located outside. A vault toilet is housed in a separate building. This facility houses a maximum of four people. The lookout has no cooking facilities, water, bedding or electricity. Visitors must bring their own water supply and garbage bags to pack out their trash. Recommended supplies include food, toilet paper, linens and blankets, firewood, cooking utensils, extra batteries and a flashlight or lantern. Visitors should also remember to bring the reservation confirmation and the lock combination. The use of portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel is allowed with a valid California campfire permit (click here for more details on Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout). Natural Features Little Mt. Hoffman is a cinder cone on the flanks of Medicine Lake Highland, the largest identified volcano within California, which extends roughly 15 miles east to west and 25 miles north to south. Medicine Lake Highland has a caldera that is partially filled by Medicine Lake. Little Mt. Hoffman sits on the rim of this caldera at 7,309 feet, providing a panoramic view of this diverse volcanic landscape. Visitors can see a spectacular view of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and southern Oregon's Mt. McLoughlin. The panorama includes the Tulelake Basin to the north, the Fall River Valley in the east and the Medicine Lake Highlands to the south. Charges & Cancellations A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees. For full details see NRRS Reservation Policy .
Directions & GPX
Facts about this campground
Where it is
- McCloud Ranger District · Ranger district
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Conditions
Active alerts for Shasta-Trinity National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:
information · posted Oct 1, 2026
Mount Shasta-McCloud Seasonal Area and Road Closure
information · posted Sep 4, 2026
Bailey Cove Road Closure Order
caution · posted Sep 4, 2026
Panther Basin and Panther Meadows Area and Use Restrictions
information · posted Sep 2, 2026
Upper Ski Bowl Parking Restriction Order
information · posted Aug 28, 2026
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Mt. Shasta Wilderness Area Restrictions
fire-restriction · posted Aug 24, 2026
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
Mud and Ash Creek Area and Road Closure
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Little Mount Hoffman TrailHiking2.2 mi
- Crystal Springs TrailHiking2.3 mi
- Schonchin SpringsCamping2.4 mi
- Little Medicine LoopHiking2.4 mi
- Little Medicine Lake TrailHiking2.6 mi
- Medicine Lakeshore TrailHiking3.3 mi
- Medicine Lake Glass Flow TrailHiking3.5 mi
- Paynes SpringsCamping5.4 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
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